9 Nights / 10 Days

Introduction

Watch the natural beauty of Sri Lanka unfold before your very eyes on this amazing tour of the island, where you will get to see, hear, and feel nature at its finest. Your sense of adventure will go into overdrive as you immerse yourself in Sri Lanka’s many national parks and wonderful pristine beaches. This tour provides you with insights into the culture, nature, and beauty of the emerald isle. You will understand why the ancient Arabs used to call it Serendib – the origin of the word “serendipity”.

Tour Description

Tour Description

Wildlife Tours Sri Lanka takes you on an unforgettable journey across the island known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean, with an emphasis on its natural wonders: its many national parks and the best beaches in the country. This 10 Days and 9 Nights tour travels to several parts of the country, traverses different terrains and climates, and ends up on the best place to relax – a gorgeous beach.

The tour starts in the cultural epicentre of Kandy. From Kandy, you will get to see the first elephant orphanage in Pinnawala, and take a safari tour on the back of an elephant. Hop on a train for the next leg of the journey and enjoy a scenic ride through Sri Lanka’s Hill Country. Visit a tea plantation and factory in Nuwara Eliya to see how tea is processed. From picturesque Nuwara Eliya, make a visit to the mysterious Horton Plains National Park, an area of serene beauty. On the way downhill, go white water rafting and “canyoning” at Kithulgala. Visit Udawalawe National Park for a great wildlife experience watching all sorts of wildlife including herds of elephants. The tour then takes you to Yala National Park, the best place in the world to see leopards in the wild. Days 8 and 9 are spent in the deep south of the island, in the southern capital of Galle, and the resort town of Unawatuna, home to one of the best beaches in the world. Leave on the last day with your batteries recharged, mind rejuvenated, and cameras full of pictures.

Tour Itinerary

Tour Itinerary

Days 1 and 2 - Airport, Kandy, and Pinnawala

Schedule:

Day 1 –

Meet at the airport and transfer to Kandy

Relax at the hotel after a long journey

Overnight stay in Kandy

Day 2 –

Elephant back safari at Pinnawala after breakfast

A visit to the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawala

Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy

Experience cultural and traditional dances

Overnight stay in Kandy

One of our representatives will meet you at the airport, and you will be taken to Sri Lanka’s hill capital of Kandy. The first day will mainly be for relaxation after your flight and road trip to Kandy. On Day 2, you get off to a flying start, as you take a safari tour in Pinnawala on the back of an elephant. Pinnawala’s main attraction – the elephant orphanage, first of its kind anywhere in the world – is the next stop on the journey. See these playful giants being fed, bathed, and given some attention. Believed to be the largest elephant herd in captivity, the orphanage contains a mix of baby elephants that have been orphaned due to poacher activity or otherwise, adult elephants that came to the orphanage as calves, and even elephants that were born in the orphanage!

The city of Kandy is the next destination, where more history and culture await you. The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is the most sacred site for Buddhists the world over, as this is where the most important object in the Buddhist world, a tooth fragment recovered from the funeral pyre of the Buddha, is located. The relic itself is kept in a golden casket amid heavy security in the Inner Chamber of the temple. The temple complex is adorned with paintings and sculptures depicting the life of the Buddha and a museum documenting its history.

Kandy also offers the opportunity to see a few traditional Kandyan dances at one of the city’s cultural performance centres. A team of dancers, accompanied by drummers, will give you a spectacular display which will leave you mesmerised.

Accommodation Options:

Earls Regency Hotel – 5 Star

Earls Regent Hotel – 4 Star

Comparable and 3 Star hotels are available

Days 3 and 4 - Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains

Schedule:

Day 3 –

Scenic hill country train ride from Kandy to NanuOya

Visit a tea planation and a tea factory

Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya

Day 4 –

Transfer to Horton Plains National Park after breakfast

Nature walk at Horton Plains

Visit Gregory Lake in the evening

Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya

Start the day with a scenic hillside train ride from Kandy to NanuOya. See the beautiful landscape open up before you as you get to see Mountains, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, and how civilisation has intertwined with nature in this remarkable area of the country. You reach NanuOya, the final destination, which is 5 miles (8km) from the picturesque town of Nuwara Eliya. Look out for a very nice view of the famous Adam’s Peak, about 1½km from the station.

Nuwara Eliya, nicknamed “Little England” by locals, is a town that has a sub-temperate climate. As it is situated at a high altitude, the town is colder than anywhere else in Sri Lanka. The colonial-era buildings, the impressive Royal Nuwara Eliya Golf Club (dating back to 1889), the beautiful parks and the serene Gregory Lake give Nuwara Eliya a feel that is unique to the town.

Tea Plantations are aplenty, as this area is famous for producing the world’s best tea. You get a chance to visit a tea planation and a tea factory to see first-hand how tea is processed from raw leaves to the final product.

The Horton Plains National Park is something special. Considered one of the world’s best nature reserves, it is an area of serene beauty and is known to have very high biodiversity. Sambur deer, spotted deer, giant squirrels, wild boar, and the rare Horton Plains slender loris – endemic to the national park, a small primate – call this area home. The grasslands are interspersed with montane forest, giving it a unique position among Sri Lanka’s National Parks. For the sake of conservation of the National Park and its many inhabitants, vehicles are strictly prohibited in the area, and the only way you can see this amazing national park is a guided nature walk. Unmissable sights in Horton Plains are Baker’s Falls, the Chimney Pool, and World’s End, a 3700ft (1130m) sheer drop providing fantastic views of the area below.

Accommodation Options:

Heritance Tea Factory Hotel – 5 Star

The Grand Hotel – 4 Star

St. Andrews Hotel – 3 Star

Comparable accommodation options available

Day 5 - Kithulgala

Schedule:

Leave Nuwara Eliya after breakfast and head to Kithulgala

Do white water rafting and “canyoning” activities

Overnight stay at the hotel in Kithulgala

Kithulgala was once famous as the location used for the acclaimed film “The Bridge on the River Kwai”, made in 1957. Nothing but the concrete foundations of the bridge remains to this day in the area. Kithulgala is now a hot spot of adventure activities, and is the best place in Sri Lanka for whitewater rafting. The river has some shallow areas where you can take a nice dip in the cool refreshing waters.

A typical whitewater rafting session may take you as much as 2km down river, with several grades of rapids to conquer. Safety gear, including a life jacket and a helmet are provided. Everyone is given an introduction to rowing techniques and what to do in case the raft is toppled, or in case they fall off the raft.

For a novel and thrilling experience, try the new craze called “Canyoning”, where you slide down a smooth rock surface into a crystal clear rock pool below. Safety gear is provided for this activity as well.

Accommodation Options:

Plantation Hotel – 2 Star

Forest Edge Hotel – 2 Star

Royal River Resort – 2 Star

Comparable accommodation options available

Day 6 - Udawalawe

Schedule:

Transfer to Udawalawe after breakfast

Evening Jeep Safari

Overnight stay at camping site / hotel

The Udawalawe National Park is one of the best places in Sri Lanka to see wild elephants. It is not uncommon to see a whole herd of elephants at a watering hole during your visit. An afternoon / evening safari tour will let you see elephants and many other animals, such as water buffalo, water monitor lizards, saltwater crocodiles, deer, monkeys, and even the occasional leopard. The park is also ideal for bird enthusiasts, as it is home to several hundred bird species.

Accommodation Options:

Mahoora Elite Camps – 4 Star

Grand Udawalawe Hotel – 4Star

Kalu’s Hideaway Hotel – 3 Star

Big Game Camps

Comparable accommodation options available

Day 7 - Yala

Schedule:

Transfer to Yala after breakfast

Evening Safari in a jeep

Overnight stay in Yala

The Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Made up of five areas – known as blocks – of which two are now open to the public. Situated in the south-eastern dry zone of Sri Lanka, it is famous as the best place in the world to see leopards in the wild. Wildlife Tours Sri Lanka promises the best leopard safari experience, as our experienced naturalists and guides will take you to the areas known for leopard activity. Leopards are nocturnal, so the best chance of seeing one in the wild is either at dawn or at dusk. This experience gives you an evening safari, enabling you to see leopards as they come out of their daytime slumber. Leopards may be the star attraction at Yala, but elephants, sloth bears, deer, jackals, wild boar, and a few hundred varieties of birds can be found throughout the national park.

Accommodation Options:

Cinnamon Wild Hotel – 5 Star

The Safari Hotel – 4 Star

Mahoora Safari Camps

Big Game Camps

Tree Houses (Recommended for a truly unique experience)

Comparable accommodation options available

Days 8 and 9 - Galle and Unawatuna

Schedule:

Day 8 –

Transfer to Unawatuna after breakfast

Relax at the beach all day

Stay overnight in Galle/Unawatuna

Day 9 –

Full day of relaxation at the beach

Overnight stay at your hotel in Galle/Unawatuna

Situated in the heart of the Southern Province, Galle is the largest city, and for all purposes the capital, of the South of Sri Lanka. The main attractions in Galle include the 17th Century Dutch Fort, a World Heritage Site with a culture and style all its own. Rustic houses and shops in the Dutch colonial style still exist within the Fort’s walls. Galle city itself is a bustling metropolis, and due to its location on the coast, is a major hub of fishing, transport, and culture in Sri Lanka.

In the afternoon to the evening hours, enjoy a relaxing time at one of the best beaches in the world. The calm waters of Unwatuna Bay and Thalpe offers you a chance to lie down and catch some sun, go for a long walk on a beautiful beach, or just dive in to the still waters. Unawatuna is great for diving and snorkelling.

The last leg of this busy tour is designed to be a relaxing experience on one of the most pristine beaches in the world. It will help you revitalise body and soul, and the fresh southern seafood will nourish and invigorate you in ways you never thought possible.

Accommodation Options:

The Light House Hotel – 5 Star

Calamander Beach Hotel – 4 Star

Comparable accommodation options available (3 Star and above)

Day 10 – Airport

You will transfer from Galle or Unawatuna to the Bandaranaike International Airport for your departing flight.

DISCOVER SRI LANKA WITH WILDLIFE TOURS

Two Weeks in Sri Lanka – an experience like no other : 14 Nights / 15 Days

The Wildlife and Trekking Adventure of a lifetime : 6 Nights / 7 Days

The Best of Sri Lankan Culture, Heritage, Wildlife, and Beaches in One Tour : 6 Nights / 7 Days

"Your guides, drivers and staff are exceptional, and the foundation of your great company. And our driver really did a fabulous job. A delight to be with and a charming influence on the journey. You have the good concept – Nice work and thank you for the great experience.”

The trip you suggested and organized through Eco Team gave us a good overview. We liked specially the Mahoora Explorer in Wilpattu and Udawalawe.

Anita & Ueli Letsch - Switzerland29th March 2017

Everyone has been so friendly and helpful. We have had such an excellent trip. The safaris in Yala and Udawalawe were a wonderful experience. We have many memories to take home and we saw so many wildlife. Chauffeur Guide were knowledgeable. The Big Game safari Camps were excellent, best service we have ever had. Attention to details very welcoming and food very good.